Although the market was bustling on a recent Sunday, Mike Rybak said the crowds come when the Florida produce season begins this month. Citrus fruits ripen first, followed by eggplant and squash and November’s strawberries.

“By the middle of October, Florida is really cranked up,” Rybak said.

Sherry and Mike Rybak run a large produce booth, which is affiliated with By Their Fruits. The Rybak’s have manned their booth on Las Olas Bouelvard since the Las Olas Outdoor Green Market began more than four years ago.

“We’re like the missionaries of the store; we go out in the field,” Sherry Rybak said.

The open-air market runs every Sunday on Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast 12th Avenue, and features locally grown fruits and vegetables, and a few specialties like homemade soap and herb grinders and fresh quesadillas and dried chili peppers.

The market was founded by Las Olas Chemist Shop owner Marc Leach after he wanted to make use of one of the only parking lots on busy Las Olas. After commissioners noticed the success of the market, they allowed Leach to host the market each week.

“I wanted to develop a weekly event here,” he said. “You can go to the farmers’ market, walk up the street to get a pastry for later and maybe grab lunch.”

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